Google to Settle Drug Ad Case

Don’t be evil—but break the law? Sure, why not? Google is close to a settlement with the Justice Department in an investigation into illegal ads. The company allegedly made hundreds of millions of dollars by accepting ads from online pharmacies that violate American laws. It’s not clear what was illegal: they could have been selling fake or expired drugs, or they could have been peddling drugs without prescriptions. How much will Google pay? It’s not clear, but a “cryptic” regulatory filing stated that it was setting aside $500 million for a potential settlement with the government.